Write it in!
 |
| Alderman Laurino threw my vote away along with 23,491 other votes! It's time we threw her out!  |
In the Presidential election, a referendum passed by 71% or 23,492 voters in the 39th ward (Alderman Laurino). This referendum asked the community to support and help fund North River Mental Health Center for the community by the community. 39th Ward Alderman Laurino has signed off to have this center closed even though she had mentioned that she would listen to what the voters want, so far, she has not! Can you imagine a politician not backing the will of over 23,000 voters! More voters approved of this .004 tax increase than voted to elect this alderman into office in her last election? Let us not forget the parking meters and an 85% rubber stamp approval for Mayor Daley's agenda that, more often then not, does not benefit the common folk.
IntroductionName: Lyndon A Johnson
Age: 45
Siblings: 4 Brothers and 2 Sisters
Divorced Father: Christina and Carolyn
Grandfather : Alex Michael LeBron
Born: Honduras, Central America
Arrived in Chicago in the late 60's
and have been a Chicagoan ever since.
My parents were both factory workers and
in my early teens, separated and divorced.
I am a Citizen of the United States by
way of Naturalization.
Education: Von Steuben High School, Coyne American
Institute of Auto Repair, Wilbur Wright College.
Languages: English is my Primary language followed by
Spanish.
Work Ethics : I have always excelled in any position that has been offered to me. As a kid, I once found some posters in a box in an alley and decided I could sell them for a quarter a piece. There was about a hundred of them and I sold them all. As a teenager, I found work with the Mayors summer youth program. The 3.25 an hour was not the incentive, it was my eagerness to work and help my Mother with the bills. My first big job out of High School was as a Service Technician for a popular Auto Service chain. Within 2 years, I became their number one auto technician in the country and received a letter of congratulations from the district manager that I still have and am very proud of. In my later years, I started with a fledgling recycling company as one of their very first employees. Within 5 years, I excelled and worked my way up to Production Supervisor. I was part of a team that saw this company go from being in the Red to Black. This company is now a multimillion dollar industry with a world wide customer base and a leader in the toner recycling business. I am also proud that I was involved in the ground breaking work that lead to that success.
I have often done the work of 3 or 4 people in an effort to get things done. At one of my jobs, I was told to slow down because I was making others look bad. The supervisor of that job told me to keep up the good work and I would be promoted. I do not mean to make anyone look bad, I only know how to work hard.
Currently: For over a decade, I have been involved in helping people that have acquired or have developed a mental Illness. As a mentor, I have helped many find the courage to be a part of their own rehabilitation process, with job training, counseling, and education including computer literacy classes.
Involvement in the community: I am an activist for mental health services for everyone, and together, with the Coalition to save our Mental Health Centers sponsored by the Institute for community empowerment, we have developed a referendum to upgrade a once thriving provider of social services in our community to a state of operation it once was able to provide 15 years ago with many therapist and counselors to service its community. This center, on the North side of Chicago, along with many community mental health centers across the city, were slated to be shut down last year. Our combined efforts have stopped the city from doing so, however, services are being forced to be cut as the center and it’s staff have dwindled. This referendum was introduced in the presidential election of 2008. The referendum was voted upon, and with an overwhelming majority of 71%, over 23,000 voters agreed to raise their property tax .004 percent to keep this center operational and serving it’s catchment area. With a few exceptions, the city council refused to listen to it’s constituents especially 39th ward Alderman Margaret Laurino and now the referendum has a brick on it. The coalition is now making efforts to take this legislation to Springfield to again allow the people to decide what they want in their communities with their own tax dollars. I am a firm believer of referendums, this allows the people to decide what’s best for themselves and their neighborhoods.
Becoming an Alderman: Just like any new job, training and dedication to job performance is the key. I will listen to the people and find a common ground to keep democracy alive. I will look for leadership and guidance in the new city council. I will oppose any ideas that do not have the peoples best interest at the forefront. I think we should allow people to post ideas online with solutions that can be voted on. Most importantly, we need to gain the trust of the people and keep them involved throughout any process that would change their lives. I believe we could use a fresh perspective in politics and I am that person that would get involved and create trust and help our leadership understand the perspective of the common folk through my own trials in life which are very similar in nature.
Hobbies and Interest: I enjoy music, I have created a demo of songs in the heavy metal genre that is on myspace. I love Nature and enjoy a good sunrise, I love spending time with my Grandson and look forward till the day when I can hear him say “Grandpa”. I am currently mastering the art of digital photography and have a following as far away as China. I have also started a group of photographers Called the “Chicago Digital Photography Studio” over 300 members strong which is not bad for part time work in one year. I am a big fan of the Chicago Bears. And for the past 4 years, I have been involved with politics.
Relationship: I am currently involved in a 5 year relationship that is very nurturing. We both have goals and aspirations and support one another. Dolores has her goals to become a Teacher and is attending Northeastern Illinois University and is currently a senior. We are both raising her son Andrew, who at 9, wants to have his own restaurant.
List of important Legislators I have met with:
- Mayor Daley
- Inspector General
- Chicago Department of Public Health - Matthew W. Beaudet
- State Rep Deborah Mell
- Former Alderman William J P Banks
- State Senator William Delgado
- State Rep Lou Lang
- State Senator Ira Sylverstein
- State Rep Greg Harris
- Speaker of the Illinois House of Representative Michael J Madigan
Chicago area Faith Leaders:
- Sinai Congregation of Chicago
- Mayfair Presbyterian Church
- Salvation Army Mayfair Community Church corps
- Mayfair Lutheran Church
Meetings:
- Mayor Daley Budget Hearings
- Mayor Daley Task force on Mental Health
- Monthly coalition meetings to expand mental health services
- Inspector Generals office to discuss mal practice of computer software that costs tax payers millions of dollars and left a gaping hole in the funding of Chicago Mental Health Centers
- Internal affairs police conduct hearings
Extras:
- Von Steuben varsity baseball
- Guy ball in Wilmette
- Mayor Jayne Byrnes summer youth program
- Tutoring reading skills to kids at Haugan Elementary School
- Attending C.A.P.S meetings
- Amending legislation being introduced to State Representatives and Senators
- Picketing for over 40 weeks at city Alderman’s office speaking in behalf of my vote to enforce our votes and those of the community directly involved in a 2008 referendum which had an overwhelming “yes” vote that our City will not listen to
- Generating signatures for the referendum to be put onto a ballot
- Fought City Hall to enact the wishes of voters by securing the referendum as a binding referendum
- Shopping exclusively in my neighborhood supporting local businesses
- Recycle ink cartridge program
- Recycle batteries
- Recycle clothes
- Public transportation reducing carbon footprint at the rate of 2 tons per year 6 years straight
Thank you
God bless....
Lyndon Johnson
